Conditions History

“Mostly beginner to intermediate with some optional difficult rock features”

Overview

Description

The Granite Loop is the furthest you can go from the parking lot at Clinton Nature Preserve. There are a number of ways to get there but the easiest is to descend the East-West power line trail to the bottom and turn left.

Most of the trail is easy to follow, except when you come out onto the granite sections. Things may be a little confusing here since you won't be able to see the trail and there are optional lines to take.

The first option comes when you exit the woods onto the granite for the first time. You can go left up the granite hill or, for a challenging option, turn right. Turning right will quickly take you to a rocky trail through a couple of switchbacks and finally to "Fraggle Rock". Look for the toughest way up this rocky feature and you'll be on Fraggle Rock. This is a favorite of the locals who like to challenge themselves with a technical maneuver that is harder than it first appears. You can bypass the toughest part by continuing straight out and around the rocky section and look for the narrow wooden ramp going over the fallen tree.

Alternatively, instead of the 180, make just a 90 degree left and look for the singletrack trail that heads up the hill through the woods. This one takes you to the top of the granite feature in about 50 yards. If you chose to loop around the Fraggle Rock feature you'll find yourself back where you came out of the woods. Turn right and ascend the granite where you'll meet with the other trail just mentioned. At the top of the granite hill there will be one trail that winds down the hill on a technical, narrow and occasionally sandy descent. You'll pass an old house in the woods on your left before the trail levels off. After a short burst of wooded singletrack you'll reach the second exposed granite area. Keep going straight up the granite. The trail will pass between a couple of trees that are about 4 feet apart before it turns left and heads back out the power lines completing this trail.

From here you can continue straight across the power lines on to the "Creek Connector" trail, or turn right and climb the power line trail or turn left heading down to repeat the Granite Loop, or follow Pool rd, or try Skills To Pay the Bills.